Research on Design Principles to CAD/CAM Geometric Platform Based on STEP/AP203

The approaches and the design principles to the CAD/CAM geometric platform based on shared standard semantic models of STEP/AP203 in the CIMS environment are expounded in this paper. STEP gives the possibility of developing software component architecture in terms of object-oriented technology. Therefore, the more flexible and open properties can be provided by the CAD/CAM integrated system to meet requirement oriented changes. These properties are the key elements to support the future integrated manufacturing business and concurrent engineering ect.. A general purpose geometric platform frame which is independent of specific graphics systems is given in this paper. The frame is fit for different kinds of specific graphics systems. The advantage for the approaches shows that the software design of CAD/CAM is independent from specific graphics systems. Within the scope of some powerful graphics system, the CAD software can be run on these graphics systems by plugging the systems' APIs in the correspondent API (Applicatin Programme Interface) sockets.